Mesa County Public Health honored community leaders, including Alisha Wenger of the Community Food Bank and Stephania Vasconez of Mutual Aid Partners, who are part of the Mesa County Hunger Alliance. Mesa County Public Health hosted its inaugural “Night for Public Health Heroes” ceremony to highlight its staff and partners who made notably significant and measurable contributions to the health of Mesa County.

“We’re here to celebrate you because public health is not just what we do; it’s what we do together,” Mesa County Public Health Executive Director Xavier Crockett said. “Public health is woven into the fabric of our daily lives: it is in the clean water we drink, the access to health care that we provide, the safe food that we eat, and the ways we support our mental well-being.” The Public Health Hero awards were given to the “exemplary” people and organizations that keep locals healthy behind the scenes.

“Your collaboration, your advocacy and your compassion ensure that a health system is not just a system: it’s a shared value,” Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said. “Your strength over the few years has been amazing, and it touches this community in a really profound way.”

Alisha Wenger, Community Food Bank of Grand Junction’s executive director, received the award for several efforts — most notably integrating the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) into the food bank to increase awareness and enrollment.

The fourth-generation Coloradan has directed the food bank for more than five years, expanding its services during COVID, acquiring a new headquarters to meet the growing demand and launching several new mobile pantries. According to the food bank’s website, the nonprofit distributed about 850,000 pounds of food in its last fiscal year.

“It’s such a pleasure to do this work and stand on the shoulders of everybody else who has made this possible. I always say we’re your community food bank,” Wenger said. “This is really an expression of all of the wonderful things that happen in our community, and it’s not possible without each and every one of you guys.”

Stephania Vasconez, founder and executive director of Mutual Aid Partners, was honored with the award for addressing “foundational” needs in the community over the past five years, providing more than 67,000 families with food, hygiene products and other essential resources. Vasconez, founder and executive director of Mutual Aid Partners, smiles while speaking at a podium after being recognized with a Public Health Hero Award through her efforts with Mutual Aid Partners, a non-profit that has provided over 67,000 families with food, hygiene products and other essential resources since MAP was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, during the “Night for Public Health Heroes” at the Clifton Community Center on April 9, 2025. The inaugural celebration, hosted by Mesa County Public Health, was held to honor and appreciate the many people who make a positive impact on the health of the community.

Vasconez initially established Mutual Aid Partners to mitigate an inability to access resources during COVID. Soon after, the organization expanded into resource navigation and facilitating access to critical resources via partnerships with other nonprofits.

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By Jace DiCola, Jace.DiCola@gjsentinel.com, Apr 11, 2025